My research currently focuses on the study of the mixotrophic phytoplankton found in the seasonal sea-ice of  Antarctica.  

While phytoplankton have traditionally been regarded as purely photosynthetic organisms, we now know that many taxa are mixotrophs. They can combine photosynthesis with the heterotrophic ingestion of bacteria, other microorganisms, or dissolved organic matter. This nutritional flexibility is increasingly recognized as widespread across major phytoplankton groups and may provide key advantages in extreme or changing environments.

The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest warming areas on Earth, with recent years recording all-time low sea-ice cover. Sea ice is not only a critical regulator of climate, but also harbors unique microbial communities within its internal network structure, such as different bacteria or phytoplankton taxa. In this context, mixotrophy may represent a vital strategy to survive the extreme conditions of the sea-ice, characterized by: low or absence of light, hyper-salinities, limited nutrient availability and sub-zero temperatures.

Research regarding the seasonal succession and distribution of sea-ice associated mixotrophic taxa remains scarce, and in-situ culture experiments addressing how seasonal changes or different environmental stressors affect mixotroph’s feeding behavior and physiology is very limited.  

My aim throughout this PhD will be to address the many research gaps existing in the field by combining laboratory culture experiments with field studies, and in doing so, help uncover the hidden strategies that allow life to thrive under some of the harshest conditions on Earth.